so, after reading up on how to hardmount a Valnetine V1 (or really any other radar detector) i decided to give it a go. i found however, that the most people have used to secure the dectector wasn't really to my liking. so, after a trip to TAP Plastics for some plexiglass, and a trip to OSH for a sheet of .025 aluminium and some stainless steel machine screws, i hand built a bracket.

the base of the bracket is 1/4" plexiglass, with the #8/32 machine screws counter sunk into it. the center 1" diameter hole allows you to get a screwdriver to the single bolt that holds the whole bracket to the car.

the actual bracket is .025 aluminum sheet that i bent using a sheet metal brake in my garage. it's 3" wide, and just about 6" long unbent.

like most people, i wired power for the detector using the lead for the optional auto-dimming compass mirror.

 

looks interesting, can u post a picture with it in ur car, and also just a general radar dectector questoins, do they all have to be mounted on topp of the dash or somewhere visible to on the road for the radar to work? or can it be hidden in the glove box..im thikning it cant.

 

another pic of the bracket:

 

in the car:

 

in the car from another angle:

 

with the detector mounted to the bracket in the car:

 

grrr. forgot to attach the image to the last post.

 

...

 

typically, radar detectors have to be mounted where they have a line of sight out of at least the front of the car, if not both the front and back. obviously, this would preclude mounting them in the glovebox, or any other location where they'd be enclosed. there are companies that make built in detectors, that can be hidden away with a remote warning unit, but they're quite expensive, and obviously you can't move them from vehicle to vehicle.

 

yup, ur mount looks beautiful, its like one of those dvd players on top, but a radar instead! very nicely done. and thanks for replying, sucks ucant hide them, arent they illegal in some states..like CA?

 

if enough people share your opinion, i might be convinced to make a few for sale. it took me a while to make, so between the time and materials it wouldn't be super cheap.

SkylineR35GTRx -- radar detectors are only illegals in Virginia and Washington DC. they're leagl in all other stages including CA.

 

why wouldnt you just mount it to the glass above the rear view mirror with the suckers?

 

'cause i'm waaaaay to **** for that. that and because i don't really trust the suction cups. i went on the North Bay Mountains and Valleys drive today, and the detector went *nowhere* despite the road surfaces and corners. it was held in more securely than pretty much anything else in the car.

 

In the glove box your detector will NOT detect laser (since it's a visible signal). But it WILL detect radar since its radio waves. However, it will be far less effective than in the window so that's the way you should go.

This is a great solution to radar mounting. My only question is how did you get the angle of the bracket right so the detector is level? Did you measure the ceiling or just trial and error?